Ultrafast Laser Breakthrough Reveals Light’s Ability to Instantly Transform Properties of Matter
The effects of ultra-fast lasers that can change material states in attoseconds are finally understood, thanks to new Israeli research.
Ryan Whalen
Ryan Whalen covers science and technology for The Debrief. He holds an MA in History and a Master of Library and Information Science with a certificate in Data Science. He can be contacted at ryan@thedebrief.org, and follow him on Twitter @mdntwvlf.
Mapping Ocean Floor Mysteries, NASA’s SWOT Satellite Unveils Earth’s Hidden Terrain Beneath the Waves
NASA and the French space agency CNES's SWOT satellite provides researchers with the tools to create the most accurate ocean maps yet.
Chinese Quantum Satellite Makes Groundbreaking Ultra-Secure Transmission with South Africa
The first quantum satellite link was established between the Chinese quantum microsatellite Jinan-1 and a South African university.
Ancient Genetic Discovery Challenges Single-Lineage Theory of Human Origins
New research has shown that modern humans descend from not one but two separate ancient human ancestral lineages.
NASA Successfully Launches EZIE Mission to Explore Earth’s Electrojets with Help from Citizen Scientists
NASA's Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer mission launched March 14, to study Earth's Electrojets and improve space weather predictions.
Elusive Neutrinos Detected Deep Within the Ocean Could Provide Clues to Quantum Gravity
Neutrinos may be the key to quantum gravity, potentially leading to a unified theory combining quantum mechanics and general relativity.
First Data Release From Euclid Mission Hints at Dark Matter and Deep Field Discoveries to Come
The European Space Agency's (ESA) Euclid space telescope is set to release its first data, a preview of new deep field space observations.
Cosmic “Dirty Windows” Can Distort Our View Into the Universe. A New 3D Map Aims to Wipe Away the Problem
As astronomers peer through telescopes across the cosmos, dust clouds may distort the light from distant objects, altering observations.
8,000 Years Ago, Neolithic Europeans Crossed the Mediterranean to Settle in Africa According to New DNA Evidence
European Neolithic hunter-gatherer groups traveled the sea to make their home in Africa, according to a new archaeological discovery.
James Webb Space Telescope Snaps The First Images of an Exoplanet with Possible Life-Giving CO₂
New James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) images show the first carbon dioxide-containing planet discovered outside of Earth’s solar system.
Planetary Defence Spacecraft Captures New Images of Mysterious Martian Moon Deimos During Flyby
New images of the mysterious Martian moon Deimos were captured when the Hera mission activated its instruments past Earth for the first time.
NASA’s “Blue Ghost” Lunar Lander Captures New Close-Up Images of the Moon’s Surface
The first images of lunar lander engine thruster stirring up moon dust were captured during the successful Blue Ghost descent.
Breaking the Memory Code: New Research Reveals What Makes Human Consciousness Unique
The uniqueness of human consciousness is demonstrated in research proving the human brain stores memories differently than other species.
Scientists Reveal New Method of Harnessing “Hidden” Data to Track Earth Changes with Starlink Satellites
Repurposing existing satellite data to observe Earth's changes may open a floodgate of new climate and gravitational field data.
Newly Discovered Mass Extinction Refuge Reveals Ancient Secrets for Surviving Climate Catastrophes
An ancient mass extinction event left a long-hidden refuge, whose survivors repopulated the Earth much faster than previously believed.
This Primordial Galaxy’s Surprising Chemistry is Upending Our Thinking on Star Formation
Astronomers have found an unexpectedly bright and chemically complex galaxy from the first 300 million years of the universe's existence.
Astronomers Have Located the Source of Strange Long-Period Radio Pulses Coming from Deep Space
Strange radio pulses have been traced to their origin, a white dwarf and red dwarf binary pair, solving a cosmic radio mystery.
Most Powerful Ultrashort Electron Beam Ever Created Breaks Previous Power Records by a Factor of Five
The most powerful ultrashort electron beam ever created offers new possibilities for recreating cosmic conditions in laboratory environments.
Mysterious Filament Formation Revealed in First-Ever Images of Plasma Instability
A plasma instability has been photographed for the first time, showcasing electron beams forming spaghetti-like filaments.
Laser Light Transformed Into a Supersolid in Groundbreaking Experiment
Physicists have transformed laser light into a supersolid, marking an entirely new process for achieving this mysterious state of matter.
Discovery of Oldest-Known Impact Crater is Radically Changing Our Understanding of Earth’s Ancient Past
Scientists have identified one of the oldest known impact craters, offering new insights into Earth's formation and early life.
Intuitive Machines Lunar Lander in Trouble as Engineers Rush to Salvage Mission after Moon Landing Mishap
The Intuitive Machines lunar lander is in trouble after a botched landing, with the company rushing find it's condition and orientation.
Paralyzed Man Controls Robotic Arm With His Thoughts in Brain-Computer Interface Breakthrough
A robotic arm commanded by the human brain is allowing a paralyzed man to manipulate his environment with fine control.
Unprecedented Nova Eruption Reveals Extreme Heat and Mysterious Silicon Signature
A shockingly bright Nova explosion occurred right on cue, but its brilliance and strange chemical signature baffled astronomers.
“They’re Enigmas.” Scientists Perplexed by Mysterious Martian Stones That Hint at Possibility of Life
Ancient Mars may have been warmer, wetter, and weirder than expected, according to an discovery made by NASA's Mars Perseverance rover.
1.5-Million-Year-Old “Factory” for Bone Tool Production Reveals Unexpected Cognitive Leap in Early Humans
A prehistoric "factory" discovered in Tanzania pushes human ancestor bone tool-making back by over a million years from earlier estimates.
Is Solar Activity Driving Earthquakes? New Research Suggests a Correlation Between the Sun and Seismic Events
Japanese scientists have discovered new significant correlations between solar activity and earthquakes, according to recent research.
Hydrogen Breakthrough: New Palladium Nanosheet Tech Could Accelerate Green Energy Revolution
Japanese scientist's new hydrogen energy breakthrough replaces expensive platinum, drastically reducing the cost of clean fuel production.
Hidden at the Bottom of a 2,516 Meter Hole in Finland, Scientists Made a Volatile Organic Discovery
Poor air quality markers were discovered in Finland’s Outokumpu drill hole, marking concerns for carbon generation and nuclear waste storage.
Antarctic Ice Loss Could Mean Extreme Slowing of Earth’s Strongest Ocean Current by 2050
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) is slowing due to melting Antarctic ice sheets, potentially compounding climate concerns.
Flat is the Future for Optic Lenses, Radically Altering How Telescopes Work
For centuries, the optic lens has bent light through translucent, curved material, but now flat lenses are reimagining the technology.
Lunar Trailblazer and IM-2: NASA’s Latest Missions Target Moon’s Mysterious South Pole
NASA’s latest technology advances are on their way to the Moon, poised to answer lingering questions ahead of the next crewed lunar landing.
Mind-Shattering Discovery Reveals How a Human Brain Turned to Glass in the Ancient Eruption of Mount Vesuvius
An individual who perished in the Mount Vesuvius eruption of 79 CE had his brain turned to glass under a unique set of conditions.
Microbial Research Aboard the International Space Station Suggests Astronauts Need to Get Their Hands Dirty
The International Space Station may be too clean for astronauts' own good, allowing hostile microbiota to flourish.
Sustainability Hack for Recycling Lithium-Ion Batteries Makes Mixing Oil And Water a Good Thing
Scientists at the University of Leicester have discovered a new sustainability hack with a simple way to recycle lithium-ion batteries.
Northrop Grumman Equips South Korea with New Helicopter-Mounted Mine Detectors
Northrop Grumman reached a deal with Hanwha this week to provide helicopter-mounted Airborne Laser Mine Detection Systems.
22,000-Year-Old Evidence of Transport Technology Reshapes Our Understanding of the Ancient Americas
Archeologists say they have discovered evidence of 22,000-year-old transport technology used in the ancient Americas.
Was Mars ‘Rusted’ by Water? Scientists Uncover New Clues to the Red Planet’s Iconic Color
Ancient Martian water may have played a crucial role in shaping the Red Planet’s crimson landscape, new findings suggest.
Lost for 3,500 Years, Archaeologists Unearth Long-Missing Tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose II
A Pharaoh's tomb belonging to Thutmose II, lost in the depths of the Western Valleys of the Theban Necropolis, has been discovered.
Lockheed Martin’s New Missile Tracking Spacecraft Aim to Defend U.S. Against Foreign Hypersonic Threats
Lockheed Martin spacecraft will support the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, tracking threats in the hypersonic missile arms race.
Shapeshifting Robotics Breakthrough Reveals Adaptive Materials That Morph and Carry Weight
A robotic material inspired by science fiction, able to shapeshift and carry many times its own weight has been brought to fruition.
Meet SOMIRO, the Tiny Aquatic Robot Inspired by Flatworms That May Revolutionize Water Exploration
An aquatic robot that navigates tight, cluttered spaces and pushes objects many times its own weight is setting new performance benchmarks.
Static Electricity Gets a Jolt as Scientists Solve Decades-Old Mystery
New research out of Australia is helping to bring order to the enduring chaos involving static electricity.
China’s Experimental ‘Flying Train’ Edges Closer to Reality—Can Hyperloop Succeed Where Others Failed?
China’s experimental hyperloop T-Flight maglev train is advancing toward making record-breaking transportation speeds a reality.
Survival Secrets of Antarctica’s Largest Land-Dwelling Creature Are Finally Revealed
The hardy Antarctic midge finally reveals some of its survival secrets to Osaka Metropolitan University researchers in a new study.
Biohybrid Hand Uses “Sushi-Like” Bundles of Muscle to Mimic Human Movements
A new artificial biohybrid hand uses "sushi-like" bundles of thin human skeletal muscle fibers to manipulate its soft robotic exoskeleton.
DARPA Seeks Quantum Sensor Breakthroughs for Use on the Battlefield of Tomorrow
DARPA is now launching a new quantum sensor initiative to overcome the operational challenges inhibiting the devices promising potential.
White Dwarf Supernovae May Hold the Key to Dark Energy and Unresolved Cosmic Mysteries
Recent observations of white dwarf explosions have revealed new insights into their diversity and relationship to dark energy.
“Astronomy is Facing an Existential crisis,” Says Researcher Who Solved Radio Telescope Mystery
An American Astronomy team at Brown University found themselves in a mystery when an Australian telescope recorded some perplexing data.
AI Tools are “Far From Neutral,” Say Researchers Who Warn of Chatbot’s Political Biases
AI chatbots display considerable political bias, often favoring left-leaning viewpoints, researchers fear may undermine the fair exchange of information.